Pawleys Post

Well, there's still no Shutterfly Photo Album to show as proof of another amazing Pawleys Island vacation. There IS, however, a slideshow that I pretty much want to watch on repeat all day, every day. In fact, I pretty much want to be at Pawleys Island all day, every day.

I think every single Stultz would agree.

Here are a few as-they-come-to-me things I never want to forget:

1) how incredibly amazing Sissy's kids are with my boys. Since Jeremy couldn't make the trip (he was in Charlotte for training), taking care of the boys at the beach required all hands on deck, and the Four I Adore stepped up in a major way.

2) how the kids would have gun battles all through the house - Jones packed two water pistols; Payton had some kind of a wooden rifle, and that arsenal provided the ammunition for many a duel.

3) how Jones wanted to wear his pirate ("pi-ught") hat most of the time. He'd ask for it as soon as he got up, and, most of the time, no other hat would do. I never want to forget that, because, let's face it, he looks adorable in it.

4) how Freddie ran right into the water the very first time we took him out on the beach. The boys and I had just gotten there, and we walked out to see the water with Mom and Daddy. With reckless abandon, Freddie headed into the water. He continued to love the water the entire week.

5) how Jones would say, "I deeg." He was initially a little skeptical about the water. Though he warmed up to it pretty quickly, he was instantly smitten with a giant shovel ("I got shovel!" he'd boast) and the World's Largest Sandbox.

6) how both boys kinda looked like Lord Helmet (see: Spaceballs) whenever they wore their sun hats.

7) how Camden taught JoJo to "shimmy." Jones would mimic "Doodoo's" dance while saying, "sheemy. Sheemy."

8) how Camden wore his great white shark shirt without embarrassment.

9) how Bess saw me kinda break down a little bit from the stress of trying to keep the boys contained and came over to say, "Aunta, I can help in any way. Why don't you go take a nap, and I'll watch over the boys."

10) how heartstoppingly beautiful the moon is, as its shine reflects on the open ocean. Well after dark one nite, I stepped outside to bring in sandy shoes or something, but as soon as I opened the door, I just said, "whoaaaaaaa." You couldn't miss it, and I'm glad I didn't. Neither did anyone else. Hearing my sigh, a parade of the others followed. What a great Creator to make such a masterpiece and how kind of Him to share it with me.

11) how I couldn't sit in either of those beloved hammocks and look out at the ocean without singing to myself, "Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the heavens above, deep, deep as the deepest sea is my Savior's love..." It was an amazing picture of God's boundless love.

12) how Bess and I took our Birthday Buddy date Banana Boating in the Atlantic Ocean. As we were cruising along, she looked at me and said, "We need to bring the family back to do this." I nodded and said, "I was just thinking the same thing," and I was.

13) how I'd say, "Smile, Girls," and neither Bess nor Lila would put their hands on their hips and pose like wannabe teen queens. They'd just smile sweetly like little girls are supposed to do.

14) how Jones got so brave over the course of the trip - from scared to letting Pop swing him in the hammock. From a Land Lubber to a Beach Baby.

15) how Bobo and Lila watched excitedly as the sand castles of their competitors collapsed in the uncontrollable surf.

16) how Lila came to me one nite and asked, "How can I help?" When I told her she could straighten up the kitchen counters, while I did the dishes, she insisted on doing both ... and then folded the laundry.

17) how Bess asked if we could use my Selfie Stick.

18) how Pop played "Where that Jones?" for about an hour one morning and how happy that made my baby.

19) how awesome that spaghetti dinner was - not just the food but the company.

20) how that plumber behind us at Eggs Up Grill said, "Here's how I had to do it, coming up in New Hampshire..." and how Daddy and I both overheard him and started silly giggling, Daddy adding, "... and THAT with a war on!"

21) how Jones loved the outside shower.

22) how awesome - and totally worth the wait - it was to eat at Drunken Jacks.

I guess that's as good a way as any to describe this year's trip to Pawleys Island:

"awesome - and totally worth the wait."

Thanks, Mom and Daddy, for another amazing vacation.

Photobook to follow ... probably.